Half to samuel j



{No Model.)

A. ROSENHOLZ. SWITCH POR UNDERGROUND'BLEGTRIG RAILWAYS. No. 551,145.

Patented Dec. 10, 1895.

1 I 5ML- i UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

ALFRED ROSENIIOLZ, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I'IALFTO SAMUEL J. CLARKE AND HARVEY S. BROVN, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC RAILWAYS'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,145, dated December10, 1895.

Application filed April l2, 1895x Serial No. 545,491. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED RosENHoLZ, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented an Improvement in Switches for Underground ElectricRailways; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the same.

My invention relates to a switch which is especially adapted for useupon underground electric railways.

It consists in certain details of construction, which will be more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanying' drawings, in which- Figure lis a perspective exterior view of my device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalvertical section of the switch mechanism, showing the interior. Fig. 3is a horizontal section or the same, showing its connection with themain conductor. Fig. et shows the manner of supporting the adjacentseparated ends of the trolley-wire.

The object of my present invention is to provide an automatic means forcutting off the electric current in case the tube within which the partsare arranged becomes iiooded with water, and also to provide certainimprovements in the details of construction.

rlhe main features of my present construction are essentially the sameas shown in Letters Patent No. 535,297, issued to me March 5, 1895.

A is the main conducting-wire along which the current of electricitypasses from the source of supply. This wire is embedded in anon-conducting coating of cement, and is further inclosed by an exteriortube B suitably supported parallel with the trolley-wire C, throughwhich latter connection is made to the car by means of a trolley (nothere shown) adapted to travel upon the wire C. The trolley-wire is madein sections, as plainly shown in Fig. 4:, the ends approaching eachother closely, but being separated by a sufficient space or insulationto cut off any passage of the current from one to the other. Each of themeeting ends of C C is fixedr in a sleeve D, and these sleeves haveShanks E, which extend into an insulating substance F, where they aresuitably secured, and the wires held V in proper relation with eachother. Each section of the trolley-wire C is supported in a sleeve G,which is fixed to or formed with a standard G', this standard beingfixed to and 5 5 supported from the casing H 4of the switch mechanism.

I have found that a very convenient Way of securing the wires C is tosplit the standard G and to make the portion G segmental, and 6osufficiently more than half of a cylinder, so that the upper edges willinclose the wire, and when the sides of G are sprung together the wirewill be retained in its position where it may also be soldered orotherwise secured.

The case II projects at right angles from the conducting-wire A and isjournaled about it so that it has a slight up-and-down tilting niotionabout its journals. The casing II is preferably made in two halves.These halves 7a have grooves or channels made in them, as shown at H',and these channels are adapted to receive a packing which makes ahermetical joint when the two halves are closed together. Thisconstruction makes it convenient for placing the casing about theinterior core and conducting-wire. lVhen the two are closed together,the cap a is fitted over and secured upon one end, this cap having anarm or extension b, which carries the counter- 8o balance-weight c, bywhich the casing is tilted to its normal position and Contact broken assoon as the trolley has passed. Upon the other end is a cap d, which isadapted to screw upon that end of the casing, and thus the two parts ofthe casing are held irmlytogether and the interior is hermeticallysealed against any entrance of moisture. The whole is then coated withany suitable non-conducting covering which may be employed for the 9opurpose, and by which any possible escape of the electric current willbe practically prevented. I have also shown a non-conducting ring fsurrounding the casing II near the standard G', which assists inpreventing any 9 5 loss of electricity in case of dampness,

The journals of the casing Il are secured in the ends of the inclosingpipes B, and extend into the casing, as shown at I, Fig. 3. Within thesejournals is a sufficiently ilexi- 10o ble insulating material J whichsurrounds the conducting wire A extending a short distance into thepipes B so as to form a good joint with the insulating materialcontained within the pipes and surrounding the con ductor. Theseinsulating sleeves J are so formed within the casing Il of the switch asto ve.\;tend at right angles with the conductor A and surround the ironcore which projects at right angles with the conductor and is inclosedwithin the casing II. This extension of the insulators J is formed asshown at J', and within it is an elastic ring K over which it lits andwhich forces it outward within the casing II so that a perfect joint andinsulation is made at this point.

The core L is surrounded by a coil of wire, (shown at l\l,) so that whenthe current of electricity passes through the surrounding coil itproduces a magnetic action which insures the contact of the conductorswhile the trolley is passing. The core has its end turned up, as shown,terminating within the plate N, which is stationary.

N is the opposing contact-plate movable with the casing Il, in the endof which it is fixed.

The operation is as follows: Then the trolley passes along the wire Citpresses upon the st-andard G' and forces the outer end of the casing IIdownward, tilting it about its journals I until the plates N and N arebrought into contact. termination with which the core and the coil M areconnected, and the plate N is connected with the tilting ease H andsituated above the plate N. Nhen these two form contact it will bemanifest that the current from the conductor A will pass through thecoil, thence through the standard G/into the trolley-wire C and thenceto the car. In order to insure a perfect contact at this point, I haveshown loose bolts O fitting in holes in the plates N, soAthat their endsproject a little below the surface of this plate. These bolts have headsiittin g in corresponding chambers above, which prevent their droppingdown, and all of the bolt-s are secured in place by a washer and a screwl), which screws into the plate N', and a packing p prevents anymoisture from getting in at this point. It will be seen that when thecasing II is tilted downward, the plate N being fixed to and supportedfrom the conductor A, the plate N will be brought into contact with N,and the circle of loose bolts O projecting below the face of this platewill insure a contact even if the faces of the plates are not absolutelyparallel. In sonic cases difficulty may arise from the flooding of theconduit within which these parts are situated, and if, in such ease, thecase Il be tilted so as to form contact between the plates N and N', agreat loss of the current from the conductor A would ensue. I have,therefore, shown a crank-arm Q journaled beneath the tilting case II,and this crank-arm has an arm or eX- tension R, which carries afloat S.Then no water is in the tube or conduit, the float S The plate N formsthe l will drop, and the crank-arm will coincide with a slot or openingT made in the lower part of the casing II, as is well shown in Fig. 2.Vhen in this position it offers no obstruction to the tilting of thecasing II under the ordinary conditions of travel of the cars. If,however, the tube should become flooded, the water will raise the fioatand turn the crank-arm Q until it stands beneath the casing Il in such amanner as to prevent the latter being tilted. This locks it and preventsany contact between the plates N and N, and no loss of electricity canoccur during the submergence of the parts, the packing of all the jointsbeing sufficiently perfect to prevent any entrance of water.

To further insure the apparatus against the effects of moisture andleakage of the electric current, the open space at the junction of thecore and the main conductor may be filled with any suitablenoneconducting or oleaginous packing exterior to the iieXible sheathwhich surrounds the conductor and core at this point.

The journal or bearing about which the casing oscillates may be plain,formed with a ring or collar, as shown at J2, or it may consist of anyof the well-known forms of antifrictional bearin gs.

The two parts of the casing I-I may be Secured together by screws orbolts, as shown at H2, in addition to the caps at the ends previouslydescribed, and either one or both of the caps may also be secured in asimilar manner, if desired.

The contact-plate N preferably formed as a part of the cap (l, but itmay be made separately and secured therein if desired.

The effect of the coil M which surrounds the core L is to temporarilymagnetize it while the electric current is passing, and this acts tohold the contact-plates together as long as the magnet is energized.lVhenever the current is cut off, this force ceases and the action ofthe counterbalance-weight will separate the eontactplates, and as thecurrent has ceased to iiow before they are separated, no sparking willtake place.

The connection of the core with the conductor may be polygonal, orotherwise so formed as to hold thecore rigidly in position. By theconstruction here shown I am able to complete the whole switch and itsconnections in the shop with a short length of the main conductor A andinclosin g tube B, so that all parts may be accurately made and fitted.Vhcn taken to the place where they are to be used, the ends of the mainconductor are joined to the section connected with the switch a fewinches from the yoke, and the ex teriorinclosing tube and coveringcompleted, and the non-conducting material poured in in a melted state,or otherwise applied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A distributing switch for electric conJ IOO IIO

IZO

duits consisting of a stationary magnetic core projecting at rightangles with the main conductor, a sealed insulated casing inclosing thecore and movable with relation thereto about the main conductor, atrolley wire supported from the movable end of the casing and connectedwith a contact plate adjacent to the free end of the core, movable pinsitted within said contact plate, with their lower ends projecting andforming contact with the core plate when the casing is depressed.

2. A tilting casing having the magnetic core projecting from the mainconductor with a contact plate at its outer end, a trolley wiresupported from the movable end of the casing connected with a contactplate fixed therein, vertically movable pins fitting in holes in thecontact plate,with their lower ends projecting so as to form contactwith the core plate, and a screw having a head or washer of largediameter covering the chambers in which the pins are movable with apacking fitting beneath its head to form a water tight joint.

'3. A distributing switch for electric conduits consisting of astationary magnetic core or conductor projecting at right angles withthe main conductor, a sealed insulating casing fulcrumed and turnableabout the main conductor and inclosing the core, and a continuousflexible insulating jacket surrounding the conductor, with its endsextending into the insulating material in which the conductor isembedded and having its central portion continued so as to surround thecore and form a joint within the casing.

4. A distributing switch for electric conduits consisting of a magneticcore or conductor projecting at right angles with the main conductor, asealed insulating casing fulcrumed and turnable about the mainconductor, said casing being made in halves adapted to it togetherhaving packing fitting in grooves between the meeting edges of thehalves, and caps itting over the ends serving to clamp the sectionstogether, and contact plates within the casing whereby electricalcommunication is effected between the main conductor and an exteriorconductor carried upon the casing.

5. A distributing switch for electric conduits consisting of a magneticcore or conductor projecting at right angles with the main conductor, asealed insulating casing fulcrumed and turnable about the main conductorand inclosing the core, a trolley wire supported from the movable end ofthe casing and connecting with the contact plate adjacent to the freeend of the core and movable with the casing, a locking arm whereby thetilting of the casing is prevented, and a oat connected with saidlocking arm adapted to throw it into engagement to lock the casingwhenever the float is raised by a body of water around it.

6. A distributing switch for electric conduits, consisting of a magneticcore or conductor projecting from the main conductor, a sealed casingtherefor fulcrumed and turnable about the main conductor, journals orbearings upon which the casing is movable, a leXible insulating sheathor jacket inclosing the conductor and core and an exterior iilling orpacking surrounding the sheath.

7. A distributing switch for electric conduits consisting of astationary magnetic core projecting from the main conductor, a sealedcasing therefor, fulcrumed and turnable in journals or bearings aboutthe main conductor, a flexible insulating sheath or jacket surroundingthe junction of the main conductor and core, and a ring and groove jointat the termination of the sheath within the casing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED ROSENHOLZ. itneSSeS:

S. H. NoURsE, H. F. AscHEcK.

